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Angels sign 11 Draft picks, including Alvarez

Angels sign 11 Draft picks, including Alvarez

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By Alden Gonzalez
/
MLB.com |

ANAHEIM -- The Angels agreed to terms Monday with 11 of their 2012 Draft picks, including four of their top five selections and their first choice -- R.J. Alvarez, a reliever out of Florida Atlantic University who was taken in the third round (114th overall).

Alvarez, who agreed to his slot value of $416,300, is a 6-foot-2, 215-pound right-hander who posted eight saves and a 0.72 ERA in 22 appearances during his junior season, holding batters to a .155 batting average while striking out 47 and walking 10 in 37 2/3 innings.

Alvarez, who boasts a heavy, high-90s fastball and an out-pitch breaking ball, started during his first two years in college before transitioning to the bullpen. His age (21), his collegiate experience and his makeup make Angels scouting director Ric Wilson believe he can be a "quick mover" in their system.

"He's not going to be a guy who's got to go step-by-step," said Wilson, who didn't have a pick in the first two rounds due to having loss those picks as compensation for the Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson signings. "There's not a lot of refinement to him. Just get him headed up the system and see where he lands."

None of the Angels' Draft-pick signings agreed to more than their slot value, according to a source, with their picks from the top 10 rounds signing close to their slot value and the later picks mainly agreeing to figures below the slot recommendation.

Twenty-seven of the Angels' 38 Draft picks remain unsigned, including second baseman Alex Yarbrough, a fourth-rounder who was the Angels' second pick.